LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Evansville Otters jumped on Rockford pitching to take an early 10-0 lead and beat the Rockford RiverHawks 16-11 Friday night in a game that was delayed 45 minutes by inclement weather.
Both teams had 16 hits, and the teams combined for 70 runs and 85 hits in the three-game series.
Rockford starter Ziggie VanderWall retired the side in order in the first inning, but Evansville scored twice in the second inning to go ahead 2-0. The Otters broke out for five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. In that inning, DeAngelo Mack and Luis Uribe hit back-to-back home runs. Mack went 2-for-5 with four RBIs in the game, and Uribe was 4-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs.
VanderWall (3-2) gave up seven runs over three innings to take the loss. Evansville’s Matt Zielinski (4-3) got the win despite giving up ten hits and six runs in five innings.
The Otters scored three times in the fourth inning off Nelson Curry to take a 10-0 lead, but with storms closing in on the area, the Riverhawks scored once in the fourth and five times in the fifth, highlighted by Javier Herrera’s two-run blast to center field, his sixth of the season, to close the gap to 10-6.
Herrera went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and finished the series hitting 10-for-14 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
Play was suspended with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning at RiverHawks Stadium. When play resumed, the Otters scored three times in top of the seventh extend their lead to 13-6. The RiverHawks bounced back in the bottom half with three runs, including Greg Van Horn’s two-run single to make it 13-9.
Matt Sheely’s two-run single in the eighth inning made it a 15-9 game, but the RiverHawks would close to 15-11 in the eighth inning. Nick Schwaner hit his sixth homer of the season in the top of the ninth to put Evansville ahead 16-11.
Rockford’s Matt Greener went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, and Jet Butler went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
The RiverHawks return to action 6:05 p.m. Saturday as they send lefty Jack Crawford to the mound to make his Frontier League Debut. Joliet counters with right-hander Tommy Mendoza (3-3, 4.89 ERA).
Tomorrow is Cancer Survivors’ Night at the ballpark and Fireworks Night, sponsored by the Rockford Register Star.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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